Fraud alert

The other day I was back to school shopping with the kids and my bank grew suspicious. I received a fraud alert text and my card was shut down until I responded “yes.” It was in fact ME spending entirely too much money at the mall. #daughters

While I am thankful for these type of alerts, I am weary of another kind of fraudulent activity.

Do you ever do/say/post/write something and feel like a fraud?

Lately stress from various parts of my life has been really, well, stressful. I am so short fused. Yet, I tell my kids to be patient with each other. I feel like a fraud.

I am moving 100 miles an hour, but I tell my kids to slow down and chill. I feel like a fraud.

I am almost a year into reading my Bible, and I have learned a lot. It has been a great habit, but I am still not fully transformed. Some people talk about their transformation. Hmm, well I still have a short fuse and a bit of a potty mouth. Something isn’t working here. I feel like a fraud.

I make lists of things I am grateful for and tell everyone who will listen how it is such a life changing habit. Then I complain about this or that. I feel like a fraud.

I preach healthy eating, then I scarf down a sleeve of cookies and Coke. I feel like a fraud.

I am blessed with some amazing friends who share in my struggle. We are not alone. We all have bad days!!

The good news is we are who God made us… bad habits and all! He is not surprised. When we snap at our spouse, God doesn’t think, “Wow! I didn’t see that coming.”

He knows.

So instead of feeling like a fraud, why don’t we feel thankful for our nuances and ask God to show us how to use them for good.

It’s a Heart thing ♥

Lately I have been praying Psalm 51:10: Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Often I can recognize when I am not doing things for the right reasons, or when I am doing things I shouldn’t be doing.

When the motives of our heart are in line with God, I think a lot of other things naturally fall into place. You have to start deep on the inside.

But…

Life is challenging. Recognizing behavior and changing behavior are 2 very different things!

Can I get an Amen?!

Our impure hearts can easily line up with the world view rather than God’s view.

But I want to want what God wants.


Gods says: I want you to forgive that person.

The world says: They don’t deserve forgiveness. I want to repay an eye for an eye so they know how it feels.

Ephesians 4:32: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.


God says: I want you to stop watching that show.

The world says: But it’s so funny and entertaining. I need time to just veg out and unwind.

1 John 2:6: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.


God says: I want you to make time for me and put me first.

The world says: There are so many other things I have to get done. There is not enough time.

Mathew 6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.


God says: I want you to stop arguing over your disagreements.

The world says: But I know I am right and they are wrong!

2 Timothy 2:23: Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.


God says: Show them love.

The world says: They aren’t worthy of my affection.

John 13:35: By this all people will know that you are my disciple, if you have love for one another.


God, I want to want what You want. Change my heart. Create in me a pure heart. Let my heart’s desire be to follow your lead, listen for your voice, and take that step in faith, even if it goes against what the world thinks I should do. Give me an eternal perspective. Amen

Color-coded Bible verses

It has taken some time, but I finally have a color-coded plan for Bible study. It works well for me and is easy to remember.To get started you will need:

* A Bible

If you prefer digital, check it Olive Tree or You Version apps. Those are my favorite.

If you prefer a good ole’ fashioned paper Bible, I really like this NIV version from Amazon.

*Highlighters

I purchased a great set on Amazon that does not bleed through.

*Page tabs

Believe it or not, I purchased these on Amazon (notice a pattern here?)

Side note – Because the highlighter set doesn’t have a great shade of red, I use a red colored pencil instead.

Once you have all your supplies, come up with a color scheme. Mine works well because the same colors are available on my digital Bible so I have uniformity.

Here’s my color color codes. I keep these on note cards in my Bible.

Start with the stop light method

Green – commands, advice, growth, wisdom, teaching, money (simply threw in money because it is green)

Yellow– worry, anxiety, doubt, fear (things that should make us pause)

Red- devil, evil, satan, false prophets, hell, temptation (things we should stop and avoid)Pretty basic concept.

Green means go! Follow these verses and live them out.

Yellow means pause. Are you worried? Slow down and redirect your focus.

Red means stop. Turn away from temptations and evil.

In addition the to stoplight colors, I have a few others:

Blue – work, God’s will, heaven, miracles, prophesy

Purple – marriage, relationships, family, people, prophets

Orange – God, Jesus, Holy spirit, attributes of God

Pink – prayer, praise, promises, peace, love, joy, kindness, mercy, grace, forgiveness

Of course, many verses overlap and could fit multiple colors. There is no right or wrong here!

When I find a verse I want to highlight, I think about what category it fits best, highlight it with that color, and then attach a page tab in the same color. This makes it easier to search your Bible based on topic.

If we use one of my favorite verses as an example:

Proverbs 3: 5-6 Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path.I

I highlighted this green because I think it is great advice I want to follow.

Next, I put a green tab on the page. Because it is a favorite that I like to read often, I labeled the tab Proverbs 3: 5-6

This plan works well for me, but there is no right or wrong. If you don’t have a system in place, give it a try!

I highly recommend a big, lazy dog to join you during your study time.